Portable electric cable support tower

Abstract

A support for electrical cables having a nonconductive telescoping pole. A frictional locking collar couples sections of the telescoping pole to one another. The bottom end of the pole fits into a round conical base formed of recycled tires. The top end of the pole is affixed to a nonconductive head that is shaped to cradle electrical cables.

1 . A portable support tower for temporarily supporting one or more electrical cables above ground level at a construction site, the support tower comprising:
 an elongated lightweight member having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongated lightweight member being formed of a nonconductive, rigid first material;   a base having a downwardly-extending cavity formed therein, the cavity being sized to accept the proximal end of the elongated lightweight member, the base being formed of a nonconductive second material that provides the base with substantially more mass than the first material provides the lightweight member; and   a support head shaped to cradle one or more cables, the support head being removably affixed to the distal end of the elongated lightweight member.   
     
     
         2 . The support tower of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of: plastic, fiberglass, and carbon fiber composite. 
     
     
         3 . The support tower of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated lightweight member comprises:
 a hollow bottom portion; and   a top portion sized to move freely inside the hollow bottom portion; and   wherein the support tower further comprises a frictional locking collar disposed to encompass both the hollow bottom portion and the top portion and to selectably lock the hollow bottom portion and the top portion in fixed relation to one another.   
     
     
         4 . The support tower of  claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises shredded, recycled tire rubber. 
     
     
         5 . The support tower of  claim 1 , wherein the support head is affixed to the distal end of the elongated lightweight member via threaded engagement. 
     
     
         6 . A support tower for supporting one or more cables above ground level, the support tower comprising:
 an elongated, nonconductive, telescoping pole having a proximal end and a distal end;   a nonconductive base having a vertical cavity sized to accept the proximal end of the pole, the cavity being formed substantially centrally in the base; and   a nonconductive support head shaped to cradle one or more cables, the support head being removably affixed to the distal end of the pole.   
     
     
         7 . The support tower of  claim 6 , wherein the telescoping pole is formed substantially of a material selected from the group consisting of: plastic, fiberglass, and carbon fiber composite. 
     
     
         8 . The support tower of  claim 6 , wherein the base comprises shredded, recycled tire rubber. 
     
     
         9 . The support tower of  claim 6 , wherein the support head is affixed to the distal end of the pole via threaded engagement. 
     
     
         10 . The support tower of  claim 6 , wherein telescoping portions of the pole are engaged to one another via a frictional locking collar. 
     
     
         11 . A portable support tower for temporarily supporting one or more electrical cables above ground level at a construction site, the support tower comprising:
 a non-conductive base having a bottom that engages the ground and a top that extends upwardly therefrom, the base having an opening therein extending downwardly from the top toward the bottom, the base being formed of a material comprising a shredded, recycled rubber tire material, the base being sufficiently wide and heavy that it resists being tipped over by a tipping force applied thereto, the base being sufficiently light that a single person is permitted by law to move it;   an elongated, lightweight tubular pole member having a lower end and an upper end, the pole member being formed of a nonconductive material comprising a synthetic resin, the pole member fitting closely in the opening in the base so as to be supported in an upward position by the base, the pole being removable from the base for disassembly and moving the tower; and   a support head removably affixed at the upper end of the pole, the support head including means for engaging and supporting one or more electrical cables above the ground,   the support tower being constructed so as to provide stable and non-conductive above ground support for electrical cables but being capable of being easily disassembled and moved and reused at different sites.